International Rescue Committee
We respond to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and help people to survive, recover & rebuild. cities. cities.
-- Worked with 8,027 volunteers in the U.S.
Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee has been providing lifesaving services to the world’s most vulnerable. Here’s how the IRC was founded at the call of physicist, humanitarian -- and refugee -- Albert Einstein:
In July 1933, a committee of 51 prominent American intellectuals, artists, clergy, and political leaders formed a branch of the International Relief Association in New York, at
06/20/2026
Crisis creates distance: distance from safety, from stability and from each other.
But whether someone lives three doors down or three thousand miles away, the distance between us is smaller than we think.
This World Refugee Day, we all can close the distance by recognizing that what connects us is stronger than what divides us. The search for refuge, dignity and belonging is not foreign. It is familiar.
At a moment when the rhetoric around refugees is growing louder and support is under strain, how we respond matters. This , share this post and join us in leading with our shared humanity.
Illustration by on Instagram 🎨
With only two days away, we’re thinking about how people support each other in times of crisis.
Crisis creates distance—from home, from safety, from rebuilding a life. But humanity has the power to close that distance.
One team of people can reunite a family. One classroom can restore a child’s spirit. One act of courage can save a life. And there are so many more ways to make a difference.
At a moment when the rhetoric around refugees is growing louder and support is under strain, how we respond matters. This World Refugee Day, join us in leading with our shared humanity—and share your story in the comments: How do you close the distance?
06/16/2026
Too often, crisis pulls us apart. But compassion has the power to close the distance.
At the International Rescue Committee, we see it every day: neighbors supporting refugee families; volunteers delivering food to those in need; staff fighting to keep vital services running.
Sometimes it's our teams. Often, it's the communities around them.
As approaches, we’re celebrating the people who go the extra distance because they believe everyone deserves safety, care and a future. Swipe ➡️ for five inspiring stories from around the world.
31-year-old mother Jawaher has been displaced three times by the war in Gaza.
Her husband was killed by an airstrike, leaving her alone to raise their five-year-old son, Jamil, amid conditions most of us cannot imagine.
Living in a makeshift camp, Jawaher cooks over an open fire, walks long distances to find clean drinking water, and relies on community kitchens to obtain meals as shortages of basic supplies continue.
She is not alone in this.
More than 2 million people remain displaced within Gaza, with the majority sheltering in tents as summer heat intensifies. Ongoing airstrikes and military operations continue to endanger civilians, while access to healthcare, clean water, and humanitarian aid remains severely restricted.
Despite operating under relentless pressure, IRC staff and partners continue delivering nutrition and psychosocial support to families who have lost so much.
Communities in Tyre, Lebanon are at breaking point as they face ongoing Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders for the entire city; home to over 165,000 people.
Many have already been displaced multiple times and exhausted every resource they have to survive. Those who leave will be forced into areas that are over-crowded, under-resourced, and stretched to the brink.
The IRC is scaling up its operations in Tyre and across southern Lebanon to reach people with critical support. This includes cash assistance, psychosocial support, and essential hygiene items that many families can no longer afford or find.
Josephine Haddad, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator in Lebanon, reports from the scene.
06/11/2026
What a beautiful moment 💛
06/11/2026
Yes to play, learning, and joy for all kids 🙌
Meselech, a teacher in Tigray, Ethiopia, is using a teaching method called LEGO® Six Bricks to make learning interactive and engaging for her students, many of whom are refugees or have been deeply affected by conflict.
Trained through the IRC’s PlayMatters program, these playful learning approaches in the classroom are helping the kids focus, connect, and heal from trauma.
The IRC and The LEGO Foundation support millions of children and caregivers to use play as a tool, not just for learning, but for reconnecting kids to their childhood. ♥️
Created in partnership with Upworthy. Learn more and support this initiative: www.rescue.org/IRC-and-LEGO-Foundation
06/08/2026
“My family had to leave the country, but I chose to stay here and to continue my humanitarian work with the IRC.”
At 29-years old, Azza has lived through two displacements, and kept working through all of it. For three years, she's delivered vital aid to communities caught in Sudan's escalating conflict.
The toll has been devastating. Over 70% of all hospitals have been destroyed, leaving millions without healthcare as disease outbreaks surge.
In response, Azza and her team work tirelessly to deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services to those who need it most, supported by our partnership with the European Union.
“I don't know if my life will actually go back to how it was before the war,” says Azza. "Or if my family will be able to come back to Sudan.”
Despite intense challenges, Azza is proud to continue serving her community. “The things we do may seem small from the outside, but they are very meaningful to the people who need them. There is a rewarding feeling that comes with that.”
Swipe to see her story, brought to life by Aya Mohamed.
06/02/2026
“Little by little, I realized that I had to keep going. For my baby.”
For Belkis, a 42-year-old Venezuelan mother, the journey to Colombia was marked by violence, abandonment and uncertainty. Pregnant and separated from her children, she faced a system where adequate maternal care felt out of reach.
She is not alone.
Over 1.7 million Venezuelans have sought refuge in Colombia, with women and children facing heightened risks of exploitation, gender-based violence, and a lack of critical healthcare.
The IRC, through collaboration with EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid, provides comprehensive support to Venezuelans who have fled their country. To date, IRC health teams in Colombia have reached over 2,800 people, including 255 pregnant women who previously had zero access to prenatal care.
Through her community network and the IRC center, Belkis was able to access essential maternal care, psychological and financial counseling, as well as legal support to help her reunite with her children. For migrants who face unequal access to local health systems, this intergrated support fills a critical gap.
“I feel calmer, more hopeful,” she says. “Now I attend my medical checkups, continue my psychological sessions, and I know my baby is healthy.”
06/01/2026
Gaza may have faded from the headlines, but the crisis is far from over.
Amid soaring temperatures, families are living in increasingly horrifying conditions.
Collapsed sanitation systems, extreme overcrowding, and widespread rodent and insect infestations are all exposing civilians to disease and further suffering.
Working alongside local partners, our teams are delivering clean water, malnutrition treatment, early childhood development, and mental health support.
But without all border crossings open, critical medical equipment, hygiene supplies and shelter materials cannot reach everyone who needs them.
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